Transportation and distribution of pulverized material pneumatically



Sept. 1, 1 925.; I

J. CRITE S ET AL TRANSPGRTATION mi) DISTRIBUTION OF PULVERIZED MATERIALPNEUMATICALLY Filed Oct. 11. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 pn lunn n lnn Sept.1-, 1925.

1 J. CRITESI ET AL TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION o,F PULVERIZEDMATERIAL ENEUMA TIClALLY Filed Oct. 11. 1924' 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 "65 71gel-Than: fares Se t. 1, 1925. 1,551,643

5 J. RITE'S ET AL TRANSPORTATION AND DIsTRiBUTIoN 0 PULVERIZEDIMATEIRIALPNEUMATIGALLY w Filed 1;. 11; 1924 V 4 Sheets-Sheet .4

' Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- JOE oRITEs, or EVANS'ION, ILLINOIS, AND BERTRAM :r. cRoss, or GLENWOODSPRINGS, COLORADO, ASSIGNO'RS To INTERNATIONAL COMBUSTION ENGINEER- INGCORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PULVERIZED MATERIAL PNEUMATICALLY.

. Application ,filed October 11, 1924. Serial No. 743,123.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known thatwe, Jon Cairns and BERTRAM J. CROSS, citizens oftheUnited States, residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, and Glenwood' an improved process and apparatus for subsdividing a stream ofthis material suspended III air, in such a mannerthat each divisionalstream will carry the same amount of solid materialin proportion to the volume of air, per unit of time. Substantially thesame device may be employed for retributors depending upon the groupingofthe installation to be served. v

Each distributor is so formed as to subdivide the stream deliveredthereto into a plurality of streams, each of which is drawn fromsubstantially every portion of the cross-sectional area of the firststream, so that the density of all streams remains equal. lVe .heredisclose two types of distributors, one of which will divide the firststream into a air of streams, and the other dividing the rst stream intothree streams.

,By-a suitable combination of the required number of distributors ofthese two types, any desired number of subdivisions may be Obtained. a

More specifically, each distributor comprises means for dividing thestreams fed thereto, into a multiplicity of similar small streams, andthen distributing these numerous small streams among the two or morebranch streams, in such a manner that thematerial delivered to thebranches. is drawn from all portions of the main stream. For example, tosupply two branch streams, each alternate subdivision of the main streamis directed into one of the two branches. For three branch streams,every third one of the subdivisions is directed into one of the branchstreams. In this way, if any portion of the main stream is denser thanother portions, by dividing this denser portion equally between theseveral branches, theddensity of the branches will be equalize By usingsuch distributors at every pointwhere a stream of the material isdivided or split into two or more branches, the density of the mixturewill be maintained equal in every branch, and at every point of.delivery or consumption.

Also by placing one of these distributors at any intermediate point in along pipe line, the several divisions of the material being fed backinto the pipe, it will act as a reconditioner to reestablish an even density of the material throughout the crosssection ofthe pipe or conduit.

The above, and other objects and advantages of thisinvention will beapparent from the following detailed description of certain approvedforms of apparatus suitable for carrying out the principles of thisinvention.

' In the accompanying drawings: F 1g. 1 1s a general diagrammatic viewof one transporting and distributing system.

Fig. 2 is a similar View of another sys- .tem, involving the use ofreconditioners.

Fig. 3 isan end view, partially broken away, of one of the two-waydistributors.

Fig. 4 is a side view, partially-broken away, of this distributor. Thisview is taken looking from the left at Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 5"5 ofFig. 4.

shown in Fig.8, looking from the left at Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section,'taken substantially on the line 101O ofFig. 8.

Fig. '11 is a perspective view of one of the built-up deflecting units.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the division plates, usedbetween the units shown in Fig. 11. f

Fig. 13 is a side elevation, showing one of the two-way distributorsused as a re-conditioner in a single pipe line.

Fig. 14 is an elevation of the reconditioner looking fromtheleft of Fig.13.

Fig. 15 is a similar view, partially in section, showing a pair of thesedistributors used for this purpose.

Fig. 16 is a similar view looking from the left at Fig. 15.

- Referring first briefly toFig. 1, a pulverizer is'indicateddiagrammatically at 1, in which the material, coal, for example, isreduced to a powdered state and then forced pneumatically, in suspensionin air, through a main conduit 2, At 3, 4, and 5 are indicated furnaces,each individual burner of which is fed through a separate supply conduit6. The main conduit 2 connects with the several supply conduits 6,through a series of distributors and branch conduits, the arrangementand number of which will vary for different installations, and beforeproceeding further with the description of the general system we willdescribe in detail the improved distributor units used in this system.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, which show a two-waydistributor, 7 indicates the feed pipe or conduit leading thereto, and 8and 9 the pair of branch conduits leading therefrom.

-Where pulverized material is transported in suspension-in an aircurrent throughaconduit whichhas elbows, angles or curved portions,centrifugal force tends to bring about an unequal distribution of thesolids in the stream, transversely thereof, and this inequality indensity tends to persist even after the stream has entered a straightsection ofthe conduit. A similar condition of unequal density in'difi'erent parts of the cross section of the stream may be broughtabout through the action of gravity in any 7 ortion of the transportingconduit which is not vertical. If the stream of air and solids underconditions such as these is divided, half, for example, being sent toone furnace or bin and the other half to another furnace or bin, theratio of solids to air volumes is likely to be quite difierent in thetwo streams, and this is objectionablevfor obvious reasons, especiallyin the case of pulverized fuel fed directly to furnaces The distributorshere disclosed provide a remedy for this difliculty.

Upper portions of the branch conduits 8 and 9 are widened out, as shownin Fig. 4, and their outer and inner walls made flat so that an angularridge 10 is provided at the junction of the two branches, the branchpipes opening out of a common. section'll of the structure, which ispreferably quite narrow in the plane of Fig. 3, and considerably broaderin the plane of Fig. 4. \This section 11 preferably has a long andnarrow rectangular cross section, such as indicated in Fig. 5.

Interposed between the branch conduit structure 11, just described, andmain conduit 7 is a casing 12 in the form of a truncated pyramid havinga circular flange por-' After entering the casing 11,this

deflecting plates 17 and 18, which are arranged in alternation in thespace within structure 11 above the junction of branch conduits 8 and 9.The division plates 15 and 16 extend transversely of casing 11 in thedirection of its narrower dimension. These socalled division plates 15are flat plates formed with notches 19 in their lower edges, so that theplates fit over the angular ridge 10 at the junction of branch conduits8 and 9. The division plates 16 are triangular in shape, with theirpointed ends 20 extending downwardly in line with and against the ridge10, and the deflecting plates 17 and 18 are preferably formed integrallywith division plate 16, as right-angle flanges extending from thedownwardly converging sides of these division plates 16. The rectangularextensions 21 at the lower'ends of the deflecting plates 17 and 18, areadapted to seat upon thesides of ridge 10. The dithese vertical passages22, six leading to conduit 8, and six to conduit 9, but it is-to beunderstood that this is merely illustrative,

Suppose that the stream passing down through conduit 7 into the casing12 is dense with solids on the right hand side of the con (luit, asviewed in Fig. 4, and. contains a muchsmaller'proportion of solids onthe left hand side thereof. This denser mixture at the right hand sideof the'distributor, will be split up between the several passages 22 atthis side of the device, and distributed in substantially equalproportions to the two branches 8 and 91 The same will be true of thelighter material'in the left hand side of the device. Thatis, the streamis first spread out, preferably, so that it is, much wider in onedirection than the other, and then is cut up into sections narrowenough, in the directionof the greater Iwidth of the main stream, sothat when :thesedivided streams aresent alternately tothe branchconduits, each branch stream :will receive practically the samePIfOPOItlQIYOfSOlldS, no

matter how un'equal'may' be the di'stribu' tion of the solids-in thecross section of the main Strcann- Theresult is" that regardless of theinequality of distribution of the solids with respect tothecross-section of the main stream, each of the branch streams willcarry approximately the same amount of solids per unit volume of air,-

As a matter of convenience, the casing 12 may be provided with anopening 23 for clean out and repair purposes, the opening being normallycovered by closure 24.

In the three-way distributor shown in' Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive, the mainconduit 7 and casing 12 are practically thesame as in the formpreviously described. The three branch conduits '25, 26 and 27 areeachflared out or made broader at its upper end, as indicated at 28, and thethree conduits join with the lower portion of a casing 29, whose uppercross section, as indicated in Fig. 10, is quite similar in conformationto the corresponding section of the.casing 11 previously described. Thejunction of the flat portion of branch conduits 25 and 26 forms a ridge30, and the junction of conduits 26 and 27 forms a ridge 31.

In this form of distributor, the dividing and deflecting memberspreferably comprise built-up. units such as shown at 32 in Fig. 11wherein the narrow rec.- tangular open ended boxing 32 has end walls 33and side walls 34, to which are secured thediagonally disposed,defiecting plates and The widthof end plates 33 is substantially thesame as that of thedeflecting plates 35 and 36, so that the width of thepassage 37 through the boxing 32, will be substantially. the same asthat of the passages 38 formed between the side plates 34, deflectorplates 35 and 36, and the division plate 39, shown in Fig. 12, one ofwhich is mounted between each adjacent pair. of the units shown inFig.'11, The

width'ot plates 34and- 39 is substantially the same as the;distancebetween ridges 30 and 31, and ,the lower ends of the deflecting plates35 and 36 are adapted to connect with the "ridges respectively.

It will be noted that each of the vertical passages 37 connect-with thebranch conduit 26, whereas the deflectingpassages-38 (of'which there aretwice as many as'ot the passages 37), are directed alternately into thebranchconduits 25 and 27. In this manner, eachof'the branch conduits 25,26 or 2'1, is fed from every third passagethroughout the length ofcasing29. By making these passages 37 and. 38 suificiently narrow andnumerous, substantially the same results are obtained, and in the samemanner, with this "three-way distributor-{as with the two-waydistributor previously described.-

l riYith slight structural changes, one or- Ino're'of these distributorscan be used to recondition,.or render more homogeneous, a stream ofmaterial which has travelled for some distance through asingle conduit.As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, a single two-way distributor, 40 ispositioned at some inter- ;mediate point inthe pipe line or conduit 41,the branch conduits 42 and 43 leading from IOU the distributor 40 beingdirected back into ,the continuation of the conduit 41. It will be notedthat the branch pipes 42 and 43 are twisted relatively through about toavoidreturning the material to the same portions of pipe. 41 previouslyoccupied by it. i

f shown in Fi s. 15 and 16, in which a pair ;o f two-way istributors 44and 45 are posi- A more eiiicient device of this type is i tionedsuccessively in the conduit at right angles to one another, so that thematerial will be successively split up in two different directionssubstantially at right angles to 'one another. In this form, the twobranch pipes 42 and 43 may be omitted, and the "lower portion of thecasing below the dividing walls, may be divided at right angles to thesewalls into .two halves by means of a vertical partition 46. The spacesat'the two sides of wall 46 correspond to the branch conduits 42 and43in Figs. 13 and 14. Obviously' a three-way distributor. might beadapted to either form of reconditioner,

above described. c Referring now again to the installationindicateddiagrammatically in Fig.1, the main conduit 2 is 'shown connecting witha threeway distributor A, which supplies the three branch conduits 47, 48 and 49. The branch conduit 47 leads to atwo-way distributor B,

which immediately feeds a pair oftwo-way distributors C and D, from thebranches of.

.2 nected with main conduit, and in all of the other con-- which leadthe four supply pipes 6 for the burners of furnace 3. As .illustrating aslightly ditl'erentconstruction, the. branch conduit 48 is shownconnecting with a twoway distributor E from which. lead the branchconduits 50 and 51. 50 is shown leading to a two-way distributor F,positioned: near the furnace, which distributor feeds the two conduits 6supplying two of the burners of furnace 4. In the same manner, branchconduit 51, through distributor G, supplies the other two conduits 6 forthe other pair of burners of furnace4. The

furnace 5 is (illustrated as having three burners, the supply conduits6of which are. fed from a three-way distributor. H con-.

the third main branch con-- duit 49. I

' In another typical installation, indicated in Fig. 2, the pulverizer 1supplies powdered fuel to the burners offurnaces 3, 4-and 5, throilghdistributors A to H inclusive, and branch conduits 47 t051, as inFig. 1. In this installation, conduit 2 being of'considerable length, areconditioner M, of the type shown in Eigs. 13 and 14 is positioned inthis conduit at an intermediate point to reestablish a more uniformlydense flow of the ma terial through the conduit.

p In the same manner, branch conduit 47 being of considerable length, areconditioner N, this time of the type shown in Figs. 15 and 16, isplaced at asuitable intermediate point in the run of pipe or conduit 47.Obviously the type of reconditioners shown at M and N could beinterchanged or both might be of the same type.

Of course, the installations, are only examples of countlesscombinations that might be arranged. In every case, however, the density,of the-mix ture of air and solids in each one of the conduits willremain the same as that in the duits, despite the fact that the mixturein any one or all of the conduits may not always be homogeneousthroughout the cross-- sectional area of that conduit. While in thedistributors illustrated, the branch conduits leading from eachdistributor here shown are of equal size and volume,

it is obvious that by suitably varying'the size of the sub-divisions inthe distributor,

branch conduits of unequal size may be supplied therefrom. For example,if one branch conduit of a two-way distributorhas twice the volume ofthe other, the distributor would be 'formed with every alternate passagetwice as lar e as those adjacent thereto. Similar resu ts could beobtained by arranging the deflectorfplates in the.

above described sample passages, so as to divert a larger numberthereof, at properly spaced intervals,.to the larger branch condui i Weclaim:

1. In combination with a conduit for transportation of pulverulentmaterial pneu- .ma tically, and a plurality .of branch conduits, meansfor dividing the stream of air and suspended solids passing through themain. conduit into a greater number of streams than the number of branchconduits and then directing certain of these streams into each branchconduit.

2. In combination with a conduit for transportation of pulverulentmaterial pneumatically, means for dividing the stream of air andsuspended solids passing through' the conduit into a plurality ofstreams and deflecting each alternate stream in'one directionand theother streams in another direction. p

3. In combination with a conduit for transportation'of pulverulentmaterial inen-- matically, means for dividing the stream of air andsuspended solids passing-through the conduit into a plurality of streamsand) 'defleeting the divided streams angularly from the mainstream inalternation, one set of alternate streams from one side of the mainstream and the other set from the other side.-.

4. In combination with a conduit for transportation of pulverulentmaterial pneu-K matically, means-for dividing the stream of air andsuspended solids passing through the conduit into a series of parallelstreams," and a plurality of branch conduits, the divided streams fromthe main conduit being ,fed in'-. to the branch conduits in.successiveorderthroughout the series. .5. In combination with aconduitffor transportation of pulverulent material pneu matically, aportion of which is wider in a one direction than in the other, means,in said portion ofthe conduit for dividing the stream across itsnarrower dimension into'a plurality of streams, and for deflecting saiddivided streams angularly from the main. stream in alternation, onesetof alternate' streams. to one side, with respect tom. the

greater cross-sectional area of the main stream, and the other set to.the other side.

stream in series to form branch streams; r l a,

7. In combination with a main conduit for transportation of pulverizedmaterial pneumatically, branch conduits leading from themain conduit,andmeans-located a. plurality of at the junction of the main and branchconduits for dividing the main stream of air and solids and deflecting.the divided streams to the branch conduits so that the ratio of solidsto air in the branch conduits is approximately uniform regardless ofdiiferences in density of the mixture in diflerent branch conduit beingselected at regularly.

spaced intervals throughout the series.-

9. In combination with a main conduit for transportation of pulverulentmaterial pneumatically, branch conduits leading from the main conduit,and means located at the junction of the main and branch conduits forsplitting the mainstream into a series of substantially parallelstreams, and deflecting these latter streams into the branch con duits,the streams deflected into any one branch conduit being selected atregularly spaced intervals throughout the series.

10. In combination with a main conduit for transportation of pulverulentmaterial pneumatically, a portion of which is wider inone direction thanin the other, branch conduits leading from said portion, and means insaid portion for dividing the stream of air and solids across itsnarrower dimension into a series of smaller streams and for deflectingsaid divided streams into the branch conduits, 'the streams deflectedinto any one branch conduit being selected at regularly spaced intervalsthroughout the series.

11. In combination with a main conduit for transportation of pulverulentmaterial pneumatically, a portion of which is wider in one directionthan in the other, branch conduits leading from the wider sides of thisportion, and means in the aforesaid portion of the main-conduit fordividing the stream of air and solids across its narrower dimension intoa series of smaller streams and for deflecting said divided streams tosaid branch conduits, the streams deflected into any one branch conduitbeing selected at regularly spaced intervals throughout the series.

12. In combination with a main conduit,

for transportation of pulverulent material pneumatically, a portion ofwhich is wider in one direct-ion'than in\the other, branch conduitsleading from said portions,-one from each of its wider sides, means insaid portion of the main conduit for dividing the stream across itsnarrower dimension into a plurality of streams, and deflecting saidstreams in alternation, one set of alternate streams into one of thebranch eonduits and the other set into the other branch conduit.

13. In combination with a main conduit for transportation of pulverulentmaterial pneumatically, aportion of which is wider in one direction thanin the other, branch conduits leading from this portion of the mainconduit, one from each of its wider sides, and a plurality of plates inthis o1 tion of the conduit extending in the direction of the narrowerdimension thereof, and

means arranged between said plates for defleeting the streams of air andsolids into said branch conduits alternately.

14. In combination with .a main conduit for transportation ofpulverulent material pneumatically, a portion of which is wider in onedirection than in the other, a plurality of plates in this ortion of theconduit extendin in the direction of the narrower dimensions thereof,and means between said plates for deflecting the divided streamsalternately to opposite sides of said conduit.

15. In combination With a main conduit for transportation of pulverulentmaterial pneumatically, a plurality of plates in said conduit and meansbetween said plates for deflecting the streams of air and solids betweenthe plates alternately to opposite sides of saidconduit.

16. In combination with a conduit for transportation of pulverulentmaterial pneu-' matically, a pair ,of branch conduits divergingtherefrom and providing an angular ridge between them, a plurality ofdividing and deflecting plates in the main conduit, the ends of whichfit over saidridge and which are formed to divide the stream of air andsolids and deflect the divided streams into said branch conduitsalternately.

17. In combination with a conduit for transportation of pulverulentmaterial pneumatically, a pair of branch conduits di verging therefromand providing an angular ridge between them, a plurality of diportion ofthe main conduit extending across the same in the direction of thenarrower dimension, and a plurality of deflecting plates between saiddividingplates having oppositely inclined flanges on opposite sides todeflect streams of air and solids into said branch conduits alternately.

19. In combination with a conduit for transportation of pulverulentmaterial pneumatically, a portion of which is wider in one directionthan the other, a pair of branch conduits diverging from the mainconduit at the wider sides thereof, and a third branch conduitsubstantially in line with the main conduit and between the two sidebranch conduits, a plurality of dividing plates in the aforesaid portionof the main conduit-extending across the same in the direction of the'narrower dimension and forming a plurality of similar separatepassages, these passages comprising three distinct series, each thirdpassage belonging to the same series, adeflector plate in each passageof one series to deflect the suspended material into one side branchconduit, an oppositely disposed deflector plate ineach passage of thesecond series to deflect the material in the passages into the otherside branch conduit, and a pair of parallel plates enclosing theothersides of each passage of the third series whereby the materialtherein is directed into the central branch conduit.

20. In combination with a main conduit for transportation of pulverulentmaterial pneumatically, a portion of which has a rectangularcrosssection, a plurality of substantially parallel plates in saidrectangular portion extending across the conduit in' the direction ofthe narrower dimension thereof and forming aseries of passages amongstwhich the stream of material in the main conduit is divided, a pluralityof branch conduits, and deflector plates in the passages for directingthe material therein into some one of the branch conduits.

21. In combination with a mam conduit for transportation of pulverulentmaterial pneumatically, a portion of which has a rectangularcross-section, a plurality of substantially parallel plates in saidrectangular portion extending across the conduit in the direction of thenarrower dimension thereof and forming a series of passages amongstwhich the stream of material in the main conduit is divided, a pluralityof branch conduits, the passages being divided into as many series asthere are branch conduits, the passages of each series being separatedby passages of the other series, and similar deflecting means associatedwith each passage of any one series for directing the material in eachof these passages into a certain branch conduit.

22. In combination with a main conduit 1,551,ees

for transportation of pulverulent material pneumatically, a portion ofwhich has a rectan gular cross-section, a plurality of substantiallyparallel plates in said rectangular portion extending acrossthe conduitin the direction of the narrower dimension thereof and forming a seriesof passages amongst which the stream of material in the main conduit isdivided, and means associated with the passages for directing thematerial in successive passages in different directions.

23. The method of subdividing a'flowing stream of pulverized materialsuspended in air, consisting in splitting the main stream into a seriesof similar parallel streams and then deflecting and combining alternatestreams of the series to form one of the subdivisions of the mainstream.

24. The method of subdividing a flowing stream of pulverized materialsuspended in air, consisting in splitting the main stream into a seriesof similar parallel streams, certain of these subsidiary streams beingdeflected and combined to form one of the sub divisions of the mainstream, thesubsidiary streams of any one set being taken at spacedintervals from end to end of the series into which the main stream issplit.

25. The method of subdividing a flowing stream of pulverized materialsuspended in air, consisting in causing the main stream to assume arelatively broad and narrow form,

splitting this portion of the stream at right angles to its broaderdimension into a series of similar parallel streams, and then combiningstreams selected from spaced points throughout the series to form one ofthe subdivisions of the main stream 2G. The process which consists inpulverizing fuel, forcing a stream of the fuel suspended in air througha suitable conduit, splitting the stream into a multiplicity of similarsubdivisions, selectively combining certain of the subdivisions to forman auxiliary stream, and delivering this auxiliary stream to a burner.

27. The process which consists in pulverizing fuel, forcing a streamofthe fuel suspended in air through a suitable conduit, splitting thestream into a multiplicity of similar subdivisions, selectivelycombining certain of the subdivisions to form an auxiliary stream,splitting this auxiliary stream into a multiplicity of subdivisions, andselectively combining certain of these latter subdivisions to form asupply stream which is delivered to a. burner.

28. In a system of the character described, a source of pulverizedmaterial suspended in air, a main conduit leading therefrom, a pluralityof burners, a separate supply conduit leading to each burner, and acombination of distributors and branch conduits between the main conduitand the supply conduits, each distributor comprising means for selectingthe material delivered to each branch conduit from substantially allportions of the stream delivered to the distributor whereby a mixture ofthe same density will" be .furnished to each of the supply conduits.

29. In asystem of the characterdes'cribed,

a source of pulverized material suspended in air, a main conduit leadingtherefrom, a plurality of burners, a separate' supply conduit leading toeach burner, and a combina tion of distributors and branch conduitsbetween the main conduit and the'supply conduits, each distributorcomprisingmeans for .and suspended solids passing throu h the mainconduit, into a greater 'num er of streams than the n'umber of branchconduits and then directing certain of these streams selected fromspaced portions of the main stream, into each branch conduit. a j

31. In a'system of the character described,

a source of pulverized material suspended in air, a conduit'leadingtherefrom, a plu rality of branch conduits, and a distributor connectingthe main conduit with the branch conduits, the-distributorincludingmeans for selecting the material delivered to each branch conduit fromsubstantially all'portions of the stream in the main con-- duit."

32. In a s stem of the character described,

a source 0 pulverized material suspended in air, a conduit leadingtherefrom; a plu- -branch conduits, the distributor comprisinginterspaced order with the branch conduits,

air, a'conduitleading therefrom, a plu-I rality of branch conduits, anda stationary distributing device connected with the main conduit and thebranch conduits and comrality of branch conduits, and a distributorconnectin the main conduit with the a -multiplicity of subdivisionsconnected in where y each branch-is fed equally ,from

substantially all portions of the main stream..

33. In a s stem of the character-described, a source 0 pulverizedmaterial. suspended prising means for dividing all portions of the mainstream substantially equally between the several branches. v 34. Inasystem of the character described,

a source of pulverized material suspended in air, a distributor,-a'conduit leading from the source tothe distributor, a plurality of branchconduits leading from the distribu-' tor, a plurality of distributorseach fedby,

one of the branch conduits, and subsidiary branch conduits leading fromeach distribua v tor, each distributor comprising means fordividingfsubstantially allportions of the stream flowing thereinto'equally between the conduits leading therefrom.

35. In a system of the character described,

a source of pulverized material suspended in air, a distributor, aconduit leading from the source to the distributor, a plurality ofbranch conduits leading from the distributor, a" plurality ofdistributors each fed by .one of the branch conduits, and subsidiarybranch conduits leading from each distribu: tor, each distributorcomprising a multiplicity of subdivisions connected in interspaced orderwith the bran 2h conduits eading therefrom-.-

36. In combination with a conduit for the transportation of pulverulntmaterial pneumatieally, means .for redistributing the'sus--pended-solidsin the stream of air passing through the conduit so; astoimake the stream more uniformly dense throughout thecr'oss-sectionalarea of the conduit, comprising a' plurality of divisionplates for dividingthe mainstream into a multiplicity of-branches, andmeans for collecting the branch streams and returning them to theconduit in a rearrangedorder;

- 3'7. The method of redistributing the suspended solids infthe'streamof air passing the stream into a multiplicity of divisions,

and then returning these divisions to the conduit in a rearranged.order.

38. In a system of the character described, a source of pulverizedmaterial suspended in air, a plurality of burners, a system of conduitsand distributors for conducting the material from the source to theburners, and a devieemounted in one of the conduits for redistributingthe mixture flowing therethrough so that a substantially uniform densityofthe mixture is obtained throughout the cross-sectional area of theconduit,

' said device comprisingmeans for separating ,through a conduit,consisting in separating the stream i'ntoa inultiplicity of .divisions,

and then'returning these divisions to the conduit in 'a'rearrangedorder.

In a system of the character described, a source of pulverized materialsuspended in air, a burner, a conduit for conveying the material iron),the source to the burner, and a device mounted at an intermediate posi-[tion in 'the' conduit for redistributing the mixt'ur'e flowingtherethrough so that a sub-' stantially uniform density of the.mixtur'eis obtained throughout the-crosssectional area of the conduit,'saiddevice comprising means for separating the stream into a multiplicity ofdivisions, and then returning these divisions to the conduit inarearranged order;

JOE 'CRITES,

BERTRAM J. CROSS.

